Convertible car.



no MODEL.

WITNESSES:

PATENTED MAY 17, 1904. J. A. BRILL.

CONVERTIBLE GAR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1903 3 SHEBTS-SHEBT 1.

. A TTORNE Y THE mums PETERS co, PNOTO-LITNO.. menu-mm, l) u PATENTED MAY 17, 1904. J. A. BRILL.

CONVERTIBLE GAR.

APPLICATION TILED AUG. 29, 1903.

3 SEEETSSHEBT 2.

N0 MODEL.

Min

No. 760,379. PATENTED MAY 17, 1904.

J. A. BRILL. CONVERTIBLE GAR.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 29, 1903. 110 MODEL.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

angle-metal sill, and floor step-plate.

UNITED STATES Patented May 1'7, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CONVERTIBLE CAR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 760,379, dated May 1'7, 1904.

Application filed August 29,1903. Serial No. 171,225.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. BRILL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Cars, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction of a car of the type disclosed in my patent granted July 21, 1903, No. 734,253, and also to combine therewith the features of a convertible car. This is accomplished by providing a car with angle metal side sills, as described in said patent or as hereinafterdescribed or many other. suitable way, and in constructing the upper portion as a convertible car. The side sills are provided with removable step-plates, against which the lower ends of the panels rest to form a tight joint when the car is closed.

For a more detailed description of this and other features of my invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in

Which s Figure 1 is a transverse section of a portion of a car embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, enlarged, of the lower portion of the post, seat ends-,sills, See. Fig. 3 is a section on the line m wof'Fig. 1, showing a portion of the post. and panel. Fig. 41 is a section of a portion of the car-flooring, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the floor step-plate. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view-of a post-pocket, and Fig. 8 is asection and plan of a portion of the post and floor. Fig. 9 is an enlarged section and plan in perspective showing a novel form of silland-step construction to which my other improvements may be applied, and Fig. 10 a plan View of the clamping-plate employed therein.

In the construction which I have herein illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, 1 illustrates the side posts or stanchions of the car, the ends of which pass into and rest in the pockets 2. The post or stanchion is provided with the (N model.)

usual vertical grooves 3 and 4, adapted to receive the paneling of the car and a curtain. Grooves 3 consist of the primary or larger groove and a secondary and deeper groove 6, the latter receiving the metal plate 7 ofthe paneling 8. The groove 4: is a plain groove in which the rod 9 of the curtain passes through, so that the curtainmay be drawn as far as the floor. I prefer that the curtaingroove be Within the panel-groove in order that the curtain may be used when the car is both open and closed.

At 11 is an angle-metal sill which I prefer to use in this construction. This sill may be composed of two or more parts riveted together; but the form which I have used consists of an upright web 12, secured to the flooring and longitudinal beams of the car, as well as to the end beams,,(not shown herein,) the longitudinal web 13, which composes the second or inner step of the car, and the downwardly-depending web 14:, to which the running-board is secured by means of hangers.

This takes the place of the ordinary wooden longitudinal sill in the general form of car and making the car much stronger and utilizing the spacefor a second step,which would otherwise be taken up by the wooden sill.

17 is a. post-pocket having the four vertical walls 18, 19, 20,and 21 and a central opening22, into which the end of the stanchion is inserted. Apertures 23 are provided in the pocket through which bolts 24 pass, uniting the pocket and stanchion to the vertical web 12 of the angle sill, the pocket and post resting on the horizontal web 13 of the sill. The usual crossseats 25 are provided with metallic seat-panels 26, which abut against the post at 27, the seat ends being curved inwardly at 28 in the usual manner. 1

In order to protect the car when closed, I provide at the end of the grooves 3 and 1 a step-plate 29, which is composed of a flat metal plate having the longitudinal flange 30 bent under the plate to form a brace. At either end of the plate I provide extensions 32 and 34, the same width as the grooves 3 and 4 in the stanchions, the recess 33 being formed between the extensions 32 and 34 to receive the rib intermediate of the two grooves of the stanchions. These extensions 32 and 34 also rest on the post-pockets 17. Apertures 36 are provided, through which screws pass to secure the plate to the flooring, and with recesses 36 on its inner edge. The plate may be provided on its upper surface with a corrugated orroughened surface, such as 35. This plate is inserted between the posts, resting on the floor and top of the vertical sillweb, the depending portion 30 lying against the sill to brace the plate as a bracket, the projections 32 and 34 entering into and closing the ends of the grooves 3 and 4 of the stanchion. The panels are adapted to rest on these plates when lowered. This plate may be used when the car is open as the inside step-plate and may be removed, if desired, when the sides are open.

The sashes and panels herein shown each consist of three sections 8, 37, and 38, the panel 8 being provided with a metallic plate extending outwardly at-7. The upper sash composes the two parts 37 38 and may be of any desired construction and provided with pintles which follow the groove 3 when the sashes are raised into the roof-pockets. The lower panel is adapted to follow the groove 3 until i it reaches the tongue 3, where it is directed into the groove 3, passes into the roof+pockets, and lies beneath the sashes'37 and 38.

It is understood that the panel-and-sash construction may be of any desired form, and it is unnecessary to explain the details -more fully here. By referring to the patent of Brill and Haddock, No. 722,280, dated March 10, 1903, a full description of a form of sash construction may be seen.

When it is desired to close the car, the sashes are lowered from the roof-pockets, following grooves 3 3 finally into the groove 3, until the lower panel reaches the end of the groove 3, where it rests on the step-plate29 at the point 39.

A curtain passing in the inner groove 4 may be raised or lowered at will when the car is either open or closed. When the sash-panels are in the roof-pocket and the car sides opened, the plates 29 may be removed by taking out the screws or may be left in their places and used as a step-plate.

In Figs. 9 and 10 another construction is illustrated. The side sills 40 each comprise a Z-iron 41 and a beam 42, the parts being fixed together so that the central web of the Z-iron is vertical and against the outer side of the beam. The lowest web '43 of the Z-iron projects outwardly, and its lower surface is a continuation of the lower surface of the beam 42, and the uppermost web 44 of the Z-iron covers the larger part of the upper surface of the beam 42, the inner edge being recessed at 45 to receive the ends of the flooring 46, which also abuts against the web-44,--and their upper surfaces are in the same plane. A step-plank 47 extends under the beam 42 and the web 43 and beyond this web to form a step-plate. The upper surface 48 of this step-plank is offset sufficiently to be in alinement with the upper surface of the web 43. Screws 49 pass through the sill 40, step-plank 47, hangers 50, and plates 51 to fix these parts together. The holes 52 in the plates 51 are screw-threaded to more securely hold these parts in place. The hangers extend to near the outer edge of the plank 47. and are then projected downwardly to the hinges 53, from which the brackets 54 protrude to support the running-board 55. Thehinges 53 each comprise on the hangers 50 an integral tongue 56 and a rearwardly and downwardly projecting flange 57. The tongue 56 is perforated to receive the pintle 58, which also passes through ears 59 on each side of the tongue 56. These ears 59 are integral with the bracket 54 and rest against the flange 57 when the running-board is in the position indicated in Fig. 9. When not in use, the runningboard may be thrown against the vertical positions of the hangers 50.

It is obvious that the superstructure may be erected on the structure just described in substantially the same manner as in the structurefirst above described.

I cla1m- 1. In a convertible car havlng roof storagepockets, a sill coextensive with the car-flooring having a step below the flooring, and

side panels adapted to be stored in said roofpockets.

2. In a car or similar vehicle, the combination of a Z or angle iron sill having a step located within the sides of the car grooved stanchions and roof-pockets,panels sliding in grooves in the stanchions and adapted to be raised into said roof-pockets.

3. In a car or similar vehicle, panels, said car having a step located below the flooring of the car and substantially within the sides of the car, and means for closing the space between thepanels and the floor.

4. In a convertible car having movable side panels, a step located below the flooring of the car and substantially within the sides of the car, and extensions connecting the car-floor with the lower ends of said movable panels.

5. In a convertible car having movable panels, a step located below the flooring of the car and substantially within the sides of the car and removable extensions continuous with the car-flooring, on which the side panels are adapted to rest.

6. In a convertible car, stanchions provided with grooves, panels movable in said grooves, the car having a step below the car-flooring,

and between the stanchions and removable section adapted to, lie between the posts, and on which the said panels are adapted to rest.

7. In a convertible car, stanchions having grooves, panels adapted to slide in said grooves, the car having side steps below the car-flooring and within the lateral limits defined by said stanchions, and removable means over said steps for closing the space between said floor and side panels when the latter are lowered.

8. In a convertible car, stanchions having grooves substantially above the extremities of the car-flooring, side steps within the lateral limits defined by said stanchions and below the car-floor, and removable extensions between the posts to close the space between the panels, when lowered, and the car-floor.

9. In a convertible car, stanchions, having grooves, the lower termination of which is sub stantially in the plane of the car-flooring, panels movable in said grooves, side steps, between the stanchions and within the lateral limits thereof, and removable means extending from the floor to the ends of said grooves, to close the space between the car-floor and side panels when the latter are lowered.

10. In a convertible car, stanchions, having grooves, side panels and curtains movable in said grooves, a side step below the car-floor, and extending within the lateral limits defined by said stanchions, a plate adapted to be secured to said flooring between the posts, the ends of which are cut out, so as to enter into the ends of the grooves.

11. In a convertible car, having stanchions, having grooves, transverse seats between said stanchions, steps below the car-flooring, and between the seats, side panels movable in said grooves, and means for closing the space between the ends of said panels and the carflooring when the panels are lowered.

12. As an article of manufacture, a step-plate adapted to be connected to a car-flooring and rest between the side posts or stanchions of the car.

1 3. As an article of manufacture, a plate having a depending portion forming a bracket, the plate being adapted to be secured to a car-flooring, and rest between the side posts of the car.

.14. As an article of manufacture, a step-plate having a depending portion forming a bracket, and extensions on the ends of said plate.

15. As an article of manufacture, a step-plate metal side sill with post-pockets fixed thereto, stanchions extending from said pockets, and seat-panels resting against inner sides of said stanchions.

18. In a car or similar vehicle,an anglemetal side sill with post-pockets secured thereto, stanchions extending from said post-pockets, panels resting against the inner side of said stanchions, and floor step-plates resting on said pockets between said stanchions.

19. In a car or similar vehicle, an anglemetal side sill with horizontal and verticallydisposed webs, post-pockets fixed to said sill, grooved stanchions extending from said postpockets, and a step-plate with ends resting in said grooves.

20. In a car or similar vehicle, an anglemetal side sill with horizontal and verticallydisposed webs, post-pockets fixed to said sill, grooved stanchions extending from said postpockets, step-plates with ends resting in said grooves, panels adapted to slide between said stanchions and rest on said plates and roofpockets into which these panels may be shifted.

21. In a caror similar vehicle, an anglemetal side sill with horizontallyand vertically disposed webs, post-pockets fixed thereto,

grooved stanchions extending from said pools ets, and step-plates with ends extending into said grooves and resting on said pockets.

22. In a car or similar vehicle, an anglemetal sidesill with horizontally and vertically disposed webs, post-pockets fixed thereto, grooved stanchions extending from said pockets, step-plates with ends extending into said grooves and resting on said pockets, panels sliding between said stanchions and roof-pockets adapted to receive said panels.

23. In a car or similar vehicle, a side sill comprising a beam with an angle-metal bar fixed thereto so that one web of said bar will rest over and partially cover one surface of said beam, a second web will cover a second side thereof, and a third web will extend outwardly from the lower edge of said second web.

24%. In a caror similar vehicle, a side sill comprising a beam with an angle-metal bar fixed thereto, said beam being grooved at its upper and inner edge to receive the car-flooring and said angle-metal bar extending to said groove.

25. In acar or similar vehicle, a side sill comprising a beam with an angle-metal bar fixed thereto, and a step-plank secured to said beam and to one web of said bar.

26. In acar or similar vehicle, a side sill com prising a beam with an angle-metal bar fixed thereto, so that one web of said bar partially covers said beam, a second web rests against a side of said beam, and a third web protrudes outwardly to form a part of step, and a stepplank secured to said beam and sill and so shaped and disposed as to form the remainder of said step.

27. In acar or similar vehicle, aside sill com prising a beam with an angle-metal bar fixed Signed at the city of Philadelphia, county of thereto,astepplank fixed to said beam and said Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, this IO bar and hangers fixed to said plank. 27th day of August, 1903.

28. Inacar or similar Vehicle, asidesill com- 5 prising a beam with an angle-metal bar fixed JOHN BRILL thereto, a step-plank fixed to said side sill, hang- Witnesses ers secured to said step-plank, and a 'running- WM. J. FERDINAND,

' board supported by said hangers. TERRENOE MCUUsKER. 

